Lower body protective armor

ABSTRACT

A lower body protective armor. The lower body protective armor includes at least one strap configured to secured to shoulders, a waist or both of a user. A fabric material includes an upper edge secured to the strap so that the fabric material extends downward and hangs from the strap. The fabric material is configured to cover a lower body of the user, such as below the waist of the user. The present invention may further include at least one plate made of a bullet-resistance material. The plate is disposed within the fabric material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 62/376,267, filed Aug. 17, 2016, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to body armor and, more particularly, tolower body protective armor.

A bulletproof vest, ballistic vest or bullet-resistant vest is an itemof personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-firedprojectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso. Softvests are made from many layers of woven or laminated fibers and can becapable of protecting the wearer from small caliber handgun and shotgunprojectiles, and small fragments from explosives such as hand grenades.Metal or ceramic plates can be used with a soft vest, providingadditional protection from rifle rounds, and metallic components ortightly woven fiber layers can give soft armor resistance to stab andslash attacks from knives and similar close-quarter weapons.

Current vests do not provide protection below the user's waist. Duringcombat, enemies may aim below the waist due to the exposure. Criticalarteries are located in the user's legs and thighs. If the arteries arehit by bullets or shrapnel, the user may die within minutes.

As can be seen, there is a need for a lower body protective armor toprotect users below the waist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a lower body protective armorcomprises: at least one strap configured to secure to at least one ofshoulders and a waist of a user; a fabric material comprising an upperedge secured to the strap so that the fabric material extends downwardfrom the strap, wherein the fabric material is configured to cover alower body of the user; and at least one plate made of abullet-resistant material disposed within the fabric material.

In another aspect of the present invention, a lower body protectivearmor comprises: a looped belt configured to wrap around a waist of auser; a harness comprising shoulder straps configured to wrap aroundshoulders of a user; a fabric material comprising an upper edge securedto the looped belt and the harness so that the fabric material hangsfrom the looped belt and the harness, wherein the fabric material isconfigured to cover a lower body of the user; and at least one platemade of a bullet-resistant material disposed within the fabric material.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a section detail view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

The present invention includes body armor that protects the lower bodyand can be used as a rescue device. The body armor of the presentinvention protects a wearer from ballistics (bullets), explosions andflames. The body armor may include a fabric material made of many layersof woven or laminated fibers. The fabric material may be flame resistantand made of a ballistic material that supports body armor plates within.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, the present invention includes a lowerbody protective armor. The lower body protective armor includes at leastone strap 10, 12 configured to secure to shoulders, a waist or both of auser. A fabric material 14 includes an upper edge secured to the strap10, 12 so that the fabric material 14 extends downward and hangs fromthe strap 10, 12. The fabric material 14 is configured to cover a lowerbody of the user, such as below the waist of the user. The presentinvention may further include at least one plate 16 made of abullet-resistance material. The plate 16 is disposed within the fabricmaterial.

The fabric material 14 may further include a lower edge opposite theupper edge, and side edges. The fabric material 14 may wrap around thefront of the legs of the user so that the side edges are disposed alongthe back of the legs of the user, similar to an apron. The fabricmaterial 14 may be made of multiple layers. For example, the fabricmaterial 14 may be made of a fire resistant layer 23, a resin coatedballistic nylon fabric layer 25 and a ballistic nylon fabric layer 26.The ballistic nylon fabric layers 25, 26 may be a 1050 d ballistic nylonheavy duty fabric. The firs resistant fabric canvas layer 23 may be madeof a fabric canvas or a silica cloth coated with silicone rubber.

The present invention may further include a canvas sheet 22 secured toan outer surface of the fabric material 14. The canvas sheet 22 may bereleasably attached to the outer surface by snap buttons, clips, hookand loop fasteners, magnets and the like. The canvas sheet 22 mayfurther include handles. If an individual needs to be transported out ofan area, users may remove the canvas sheet 22, place the individual onthe canvas sheet 22 and carry the individual out of the area. Therefore,the canvas sheet 22 may be used as a stretcher.

The fabric material 14 may further include an outer surface and an innersurface. The inner surface may face towards the user's legs and theouter surface may face away from the user's legs. In certainembodiments, a plurality of pockets 21 may be stitched to the outersurface of the fabric material 14. The pockets 21 may contain medicalsupplies, cartridges and the like.

The bullet resistant material of the present invention may be a metal orceramic plate. The bullet resistant material is capable of absorbing theimpact from a firearm fire projectile and shrapnel from explosions. Thefabric material 14 may further include an internal compartment 27. Theinternal compartment 27 may be formed by an additional ballistic nylonfabric layer. The plate 16 may be disposed within the internalcompartment 27. The fabric material 14 may include a plurality ofinternal compartments 27 each securing a different plate 16 within. Theplate 16 may be rectangular shaped or square shaped and may includetapered edges.

The at least one strap 10, 12 of the present invention may include autility belt 12. The utility belt 12 is formed of a looped strap havinga buckle to secure to itself. The utility belt 12 is secured around thewaist of the user, and the fabric material 14 may hang from the utilitybelt 12. The at least one strap 10, 12 may further include a harness 10.The harness 10 may include shoulder straps and thigh straps. The harness10 may further support and secure the fabric material 14 to the user.Either the utility belt 12 or the harness 10 may include metal D-rings20 in case the user needs to be evacuated from the area. For example,the metal D-ring 20 may be secured to a hook of a line extending from ahelicopter and the user may be transported out of the area.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lower body protective armor comprising: atleast one strap configured to secure to at least one of shoulders and awaist of a user; a fabric material comprising an upper edge secured tothe strap so that the fabric material extends downward from the strap,wherein the fabric material is configured to cover a lower body of theuser; and at least one plate made of a bullet-resistant materialdisposed within the fabric material.
 2. The lower body protective armorof claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises a lower edge oppositethe upper edge, side edges and at least one internal compartment,wherein the at least one plate is disposed within the at least oneinternal compartment.
 3. The lower body protective armor of claim 1,wherein the fabric material comprises an inner surface and an outersurface, wherein a plurality of pockets are stitched to the outersurface.
 4. The lower body protective armor of claim 1, wherein thestrap is a looped belt configured to secure to a user's waist and attachto itself by a belt buckle.
 5. The lower body protective armor of claim1, wherein the strap is a harness comprising a pair of shoulder strapsand a pair of thigh straps.
 6. The lower body protective armor of claim4, further comprising a D-ring secured to the looped belt.
 7. The lowerbody protective armor of claim 1, wherein the fabric material comprisesa fire resistant fabric layer.
 8. The lower body protective armor ofclaim 1, wherein the fabric material comprises a ballistic nylon fabriclayer.
 9. The lower body protective armor of claim 8, wherein theballistic nylon fabric layer is coated with a resin.
 10. A lower bodyprotective armor comprising: a looped belt configured to wrap around awaist of a user; a harness comprising shoulder straps configured to wraparound shoulders of a user; a fabric material comprising an upper edgesecured to the looped belt and the harness so that the fabric materialhangs from the looped belt and the harness, wherein the fabric materialis configured to cover a lower body of the user; and at least one platemade of a bullet-resistant material disposed within the fabric material.